Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Signs to deter smoking at bus stops

Question: Isn't there some regulation about not smoking at bus stops? I am a regular bus rider and wait at the sheltered bus stop at Beretania/Bishop/Pali. It is a crowded bus stop, and inconsiderate people smoke under the shelter. To avoid the smoke, I have to move way over to the Alapai side and run when my bus comes. If smoking is not allowed at the bus stop, why aren't any signs posted?

Answer: There are no laws or ordinances prohibiting smoking at open-air bus shelters.

However, Oahu Transit Services plans to post "courtesy" no-smoking signs "in the very near future."

That decision was made because the city Department of Transportation Services had received smoking complaints, said Michelle Kennedy, spokeswoman for OTS, which operates the city's bus system.

"We are sorry to hear that this bus rider has had to endure secondhand smoke at one of our bus shelters," Kennedy said.

With the posting of the signs, it still will not be illegal to smoke there, but the hope is that smokers "will be courteous and respectful of their fellow riders' health and well-being."

The signs, which will be posted at the more utilized shelters, will read, "As a courtesy to children and nonsmokers, please do not smoke within waiting area. Mahalo."

It is not yet certain if signs will be posted at all shelters.

Q: My mom lives in Kapahulu. She wants to know when will they start building a Safeway store where the big empty lot is, where Love's Bakery used to be on Kapahulu Avenue. She and her neighbors, who are in their 80s, have been waiting for quite some time.

A: They will have to wait a while longer, but they should see evidence of work there soon.

Groundbreaking for a 67,000-square-foot supermarket will be held in August, with construction set to begin in September, according to a Safeway spokeswoman.

The store is targeted to open in late 2007.

Plans call for 280 parking spaces on the roof of the market, as well as on the ground, plus other retail shops.

However, because of community opposition, Safeway will not build a gas station at the site.

Auwe

To two pedestrians crossing mauka against the red light at Beretania and Richards streets at 6:30 a.m. July 13. I passed them, but cars behind me were forced to stop for them even though they had a green light. As the two reached the mauka side of Beretania, the crosswalk light had turned red for the cars. A police patrol vehicle behind me had seen the men cross, and once the light turned green, with blue lights flashing, and cars stopping to allow him to get over three lanes mauka, he stopped them. The new crosswalk law has made pedestrians brazen and unconcerned as if to say to drivers, "You have to stop, I'm in a crosswalk." I hope the officer issued jaywalking tickets to them and not just a warning. -- M. Hele